Great volunteers take a series from good to great. So thank you for making this series incredible so far!!
I just wanted to share a win from this week: Our 1st/2nd Graders were invited to their Faith Milestone – First Bible Workshop. We had 4 kids register – and 9 show up!! I’m so glad to partner with our families in a meaningful way to help them shepherd their kids’ spiritual journeys. These kids are super excited to read God’s word, and have a basic understanding now of how the Bible is structured, and how to find God’s treasures in His Holy Word!
THE PLAYBOOK
BIRTHDAY BAG PROJECT.
We are starting to prepare for Westwood Kids winter community impact project. Here are the things you need to know:
- Donations of birthday bag items are welcome in the Kids Lobby. Donation lists are available in the Kids Lobby.
- Cash/coin donations are welcome at the Kids Greeter Desk in the Lobby – or there will be a Birthday Bag available in each Large Group room. Please let kids know that they can bring their offering and drop it in any location to exchange for a prize.
- Birthday Bag Kits are also available if you’d like to make one or three – talk to Barb anytime.
THE ESSENTIALS
FEEDING FAITH by david rausch
In Chapter 2 of Feeding Faith, author David Rausch continues to share his harrowing tale of falling down a mountain cliff in Peru – and the narrow escape he eventually had from that perilous situation. “So there I was, stuck at 16,000 feet on a mountain in Peru, with a broken thumb, a busted leg, bleeding, and with a condor circling overhead. Now came the million-dollar question: How in the world was I going to get off this mountain?”
Thankfully, David was able to make his way off the mountain to see another day – and to consider what had happened to him there. I was struck by this statement:
“Looking back, what shook me the most wasn’t just the fall, the pain, or even the freezing night – it was the silence. The Peruvian authorities said they got my SOS, but their response was alarmingly slow for how urgent the situation was. And honestly, that’s a lot like how the church has reacted to kids leaving their faith. We’ve heard the warning signs. We’ve seen the statistics. We even admit there’s a problem. But instead of acting quickly, we’ve moved slowly and without a plan. Meanwhile, whole generations have slipped away, wondering if anyone is coming for them. So what will it take for us to respond with urgency, to rescue the ones we’ve already lost, and to stop losing even more?”
David sent an actual SOS to the Peruvian authorities – and still help was slow in coming. Here are two questions for us to consider thinking about today’s kids in general and Westwood Kids specifically:
1. In what ways do you see the kids in church today (Westwood Kids) sending “SOS signals,” and how are you (WK) currently responding?
2. In what ways has our ministry been too slow to act in discipling the next generation?
Use the email link at the bottom of the newsletter to share your answers!
THE CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS TO WATCH FOR
OCT. 24: PICK YOUR PATH – Family Just for Fun Event – This is a site-based event – if you are interested in hosting a site or volunteering in any other way, please contact Barb right away.
DEC 12: MERRY MARKETPLACE – Christmas Event for families – Event will be right after Choir rehearsal.
DEC 13: KIDS CHOIR IN CHURCH – Kids will sing Christmas songs in Big Church (rehearsal will be Dec 12) – All hands on deck for this, please!
VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK
DYLAN SCHARFBILLIG
I love having Student Leaders serving in Kids Ministry – not only is it a chance for our youth to develop their leadership muscles, it is a great way for them to model to our kids what it means to live out their faith. The kids in our ministry always gravitate to the students that serve with them!
Dylan is becoming one of our Student Leaders that I trust wholeheartedly! He is not only dependable to be there when he is scheduled, he also pops in occasionally when he’s not on the schedule just to see if we need any extra help. He is knowledgeable in the Tech Booth – I can trust that he will get the job done!
Thanks Dylan for becoming a truly great volunteer in Westwood Kids!
THE LESSON PLAN
ARE WE THERE YET?
A 5-Week Series from Genesis on ISRAEL & THE WILDERNESS
OVERVIEW Can you imagine needing to walk through the desert? You’d be surrounded by cacti, sand, snakes, and more sand. With the heat of the sun, we’d wind up so thirsty and wondering “Are we there yet?” That’s probably how the Israelites felt as they wandered around the desert, waiting to enter the Promised Land. But no matter how tired our feet get, we can focus on what’s happening in our lives right now rather than just on where we’re going. In this five-week series based on stories from Exodus, we’ll explore how we can choose to be thankful, love God and others, turn to God when we’re lost, go to God when we need rest, and remember God’s promises.
Are We There Yet? – Volunteer Devotional
ELEMENTARY LINKS –
PRESCHOOL LINKS –
5TH GRADE FOUNDATIONS
Foundations worksheet – Week 4
Feel free to share your questions and feedback with Westwood Kids anytime! Email barb.filiatrault@westwoodstcloud.org.